Jackson District Library Just Sent Me a Christmas Present (and if you live in Jackson County, you can get one too!)

Love show tunes? Want to get some for FREE? If you have a Jackson District Library card, you can download up to three mp3 tracks a week. Where else can you legally download music at no charge? I got an e-mail this week telling me about this service and at first I wasn't very excited. My first guess was that the music would be odd, old, and unwanted. Wrong. The database may be poorly organized and the search engine leaves a lot to be desired but the collection itself is a treasure trove of surprises.

I'm just going to talk about show tunes here but there are current country, R&B, Pop, and jazz selections available from Beyonce to Brubeck to Yo Yo Ma.

Since shows are listed by performers (and first names at that) one of the first I checked out was Ella Logan and David Wayne. When I clicked on their names, I brought up the 1947 recording of Finian's Rainbow, which includes Old Devil Moon and How are Things in Glocca Morra. It would take a couple of weeks to download all the songs including the Overture but it could be done. You can save songs in a Wishlist and it is probably a good idea to read the FAQ section for help in searching. Later I discovered that last year's revival of Finian's Rainbow was also available.

Here's a partial list of what I found: Into the Woods; Merrily We Roll Along; Sweeney Todd; tick, tick, BOOM!; Godspell; Ragtime; Songs for a New World; Jekyll & Hyde; Peter Pan; Next to Normal; etc. So you can see the variety of old and new original Broadway cast recordings is vast. Unfortunately some are listed under ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST, ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING, MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK, MUSICAL CAST RECORDING, etc. By browsing I found Linda Eder's self titled album and a several of Kristin Chenoweth's. (Did I mention that you can play samples just like on Amazon?) One that particularly surprised me was Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson, which is currently on Broadway although I read it was getting ready to close soon.

Michigan Theater Announces New Executive Director

Alison Loveday, formerly with the Arts and Cultural Alliance, started as executive director of the Michigan Theatre in Jackson on Wednesday, December 1st. General manager George Davis resigned in June.

Read the Cit Pat article HERE.

What Shows to See in NYC!

Heading to NYC over the holidays? Check out Wall Street Reviewer Terry Teachout's recommendations for current shows HERE.

The Bon Ton Room presents. . .

 

ONE FANTASTIC WEEKEND DOWN

TWO TO GO

(Friday the 10th SOLD OUT)

The popular Christmas Show has been expanded to three weekends and predictions are it will still sell out quickly. Call 517-787-6733 today for your reservations!

Spring Arbor Community Children's Chorus Forming

The Spring Arbor Community Children's Chorus is looking for singers aged 6 to 16 years for participation in a brand new group directed by Dr. Stephen R. Murphy.

No auditions are required, but an enrollment form must filled out at the first rehearsal in order to join.

The first rehearsal will be held on January 8, 2011 at Spring Arbor Church of the Nazarene from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. All music and folders will be provided.

An accompanist between the ages of 13 and 18 is also needed.

Dr. Murphy is an adjunct professor of music and co-director of the Broadway Revue Show Troupe at Jackson Community College.

For more information please point your browser HERE.

MOVIES MAKE THEIR RETURN TO THE CROSWELL!

The Croswell, located in Adrian, Michigan announces Sunday Cinema throughout the holiday season!

Founded circa 1866, the Croswell is the oldest continually operating theatre in Michigan.  With roots as a vaudeville house, the theatre eventually came to show exclusively movies from the 1930’s – the late 1960’s, when local business leaders saved the building from demolition and turned it into a community theatre.  And, now with the support of the Adrian Kiwanis Club, the Croswell announces a return to its days as a movie house, with a full month of favorite holiday movies!

Each Sunday evening at 7pm the Croswell will present a family friendly movie, appropriate for the season.  The Sunday Cinema events kick off on December 5^th, with the Frank Capra’s, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” “It’s A Wonderful Life” stars James Stewart as George Bailey in the movie that the American Film Institute named number one on their list of the most inspirational American films of all time.

Other titles to be shown in December will be announced soon, and shows will continue through January 2.

Tickets for the movies are $5 for adults, $2 for anyone under 18.  Kids 5 and under are free.  Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door, beginning one hour before show time.

For information about tickets, call the Croswell Box Office at 517-264-SHOW (7469), stop in at the box office at 129 E. Maumee, Adrian, MI, Mon-Fri, 9-5 pm or visit the website, www.croswell.org.  For more information about Sunday Cinema at the Croswell please contact Jere Righter at 517-263-6868 or at jrighter@croswell.org

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